What Do Millennial Techies Want From Their Organization?

Organizations often scramble to hire tech professionals with the right skill-sets and also have a lot of expectations from employees in IT domain. Techies in the millennial era also have certain expectations from their employer. However, unlike the common belief they techies get lured by gift wrapped offices and the quantifiable perks, IT executives want something very different from their organizations and mostly research in those areas before selecting their employer, as shown in a new study.

The new report released by job site Indeed shows that Indian techies in the millennial era are seen to be more inclined towards intangible benefits, such as the openness of company leaders, charitable giving initiatives and the company’s brand values. The research was based on a survey of tech professionals on what they value the most at their workplace today, in terms of culture and ethics from their senior managers.

Techies value transparency

When Indeed asked tech leaders their most important to them, or any specific characteristics they value the most in a company, there were a variety of responses, and the most prominent one in their list was transparency from leadership. Nine out of 10 IT professionals consider transparency to be most important, closely followed by what the company is giving back to the community (79%) and how the company shares their values (78%).

Flexible work hours are important

Flexibility is something people often associate with tech. The study found that 83% technology leaders value a flexible workplace. Specifically, IT professional’s site variable work hours (59%) was the most important, followed by the ability to work from home (25%), and remote-work options (14%). The study said that offering flexibility at work makes it easier for workers to manage different areas of life, such as caring for children and aging parents, as well as taking care of other chore. And since flexibility tends to lead to productivity, it’s a win for employers, too.

Top perks/benefits involving self-improvement

When Indeed asked tech professionals which benefit they value most at their current company, a common theme that emerged was self-improvement, whether in the form of employee development or tuition reimbursement initiatives (32%) or health and wellness programs (30%). In-office perks, such as free snacks and beverages and other entertainment were surprisingly found to be less important to workers, suggesting their seriousness is more on contributing to their organization.

Advancements in a new job

When evaluating a new position, the study found that IT professionals consider pay to be most important (this applies to managers of every department). But a number of factors follow. One, they prioritize flexibility in hours and location (92%); the opportunity for career advancement (91%); opportunities for learning and education (91%); and whether the company has a reputation for ethical behavior (90%). Surprisingly, even though ‘pay and benefits’ is the top consideration when choosing a new job, 92% said they would be willing to make less money in exchange for one of the other factors listed.

Diversity is a key focus

Diversity is crucial to today’s IT professionals as it is to an increasing number of workers in every industry. When Indeed asked about the value of diversity in a variety of settings–in leadership, the company, their department, and on their team, over eight in 10 say each one is “somewhat” or “very important” to them. Organizations should make sure efforts and initiatives are in place to promote diversity and inclusion–both among candidates and existing employees. And be sure to publicize these efforts throughout your recruiting process, on the company website, and through social media.

The study concludes therefore that apart from pay and benefits, IT professionals do care for workplace flexibility, career advancement and continuous learning, organization’s ethical and brand reputation and a diverse and inclusive workforce when it comes to selecting their employer. Organizations leaders should understand these parameters as it will help tech professionals make a selection in the choice of their career and help them make a difference.